Electrode terminal connection parts

Abstract

To provide a connecting component between electrode terminals capable of improving the stability of connection to the electrode terminals while flexibly absorbing displacement and deviation of the electrode terminals.SOLUTION: A connecting component 10 between electrode terminals includes a plurality of electrode connection portions 16a and 16b respectively connected to a plurality of adjacent electrode terminals 12a and 12b, and an intermediate conductor portion 18 disposed between the adjacent electrode connection portions 16a and 16b and having both ends connected to the electrode connection portions 16a and 16b, and each of the electrode connection portions 16a and 16b is composed of a single metal flat plate, and the intermediate conductor portion 18 is composed of a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates 28 thinner than the metal flat plate are laminated, and includes an elastically deformable portion 32 that allows the approaching or separating displacement between the electrode connection portions 16a and 16b by elastic deformation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connection component between electrode terminals. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles have traditionally adopted electrode terminal connection components composed of bus bars or the like that electrically and physically connect the electrode terminals of adjacent devices, such as adjacent battery cells or motors and inverters. Electrode terminal connection components are required to have flexibility that can absorb misalignment of the electrode terminals and displacement of the electrode terminals after installation. Furthermore, with the increase in heat generation during current flow due to the recent trend toward larger currents and higher voltages, there is a demand for electrode terminal connection components to have larger volumes. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes addressing the demand for increased volume by configuring an electrode terminal connection component using laminated bus bars. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-26946 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, the entire electrode terminal connection component is made up of a laminated bus bar, and therefore the portions connected to adjacent electrode terminals are also made up of laminated bus bars, which gives them flexibility. As a result, gaps form between the electrode terminals, increasing the conduction resistance and making it difficult to ensure connection stability.

[0005] Therefore, an electrode terminal connecting component is disclosed that can flexibly absorb misalignment or displacement of the electrode terminals while improving the connection stability to the electrode terminals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electrode terminal connecting component of the present disclosure includes a plurality of electrode connection parts connected to a plurality of adjacent electrode terminals, respectively, and an intermediate conductor part arranged between the adjacent electrode connection parts and having the electrode connection parts connected to both ends thereof, wherein each of the electrode connection parts is made of a single flat metal plate, and the intermediate conductor part is made of a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates thinner than the flat metal plates are laminated, and has an elastic deformation part that allows the electrode connection parts to move closer to or further apart by elastic deformation. the intermediate conductor portion has flat-plate-shaped connecting portions at both ends, and the elastic deformation portion is formed between the connecting portions; and each of the electrode connection portions has a flat-plate-shaped connected portion that is superimposed on and connected to each of the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor portion, and a flat-plate-shaped connecting portion that is superimposed on and connected to the electrode terminal. It is something that exists. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electrode terminal connection component shown in FIG. 1 in a state where it is connected to a plurality of battery cells. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to the third embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a specific example of a method for manufacturing the electrode terminal connection part shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to a modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a connecting component between electrode terminals according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] <Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure> First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The electrode terminal connecting component of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A semiconductor device including a plurality of electrode connection portions connected to a plurality of adjacent electrode terminals, respectively, and an intermediate conductor portion arranged between the adjacent electrode connection portions and having the electrode connection portions connected to both ends thereof, wherein each of the electrode connection portions is made of a single flat metal plate, and the intermediate conductor portion is made of a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates thinner than the flat metal plates are stacked, and has an elastic deformation portion that allows the electrode connection portions to move closer to or further apart by elastic deformation.

[0009] According to the electrode terminal connection component of this aspect, adjacent electrode connection portions connected to adjacent electrode terminals are connected via intermediate conductor portions, and each electrode connection portion is made of a single metal flat plate. This reduces the risk of gaps occurring between the electrode connection portions and the electrode terminals compared to conventional structures in which the electrode connection portions are made of laminated bus bars, making it possible to provide an electrode terminal connection component with improved connection stability to the electrode terminals.

[0010] Furthermore, the intermediate conductor portion, the ends of which are connected to the electrode connection portions, is formed from a laminated bus bar, which is made up of multiple thin metal plates that are thinner than the flat metal plates that make up the electrode connection portions. Therefore, compared to an intermediate conductor portion formed from a bus bar made of a single metal plate with the same cross-sectional area, it is more susceptible to elastic deformation when an external force is applied in the direction of moving the electrode connection portions closer together or further apart. As a result, the intermediate conductor portion can accommodate the electrode connection portions' approaching or separating movement with excellent compliance, and the elastically deforming portion can be configured with a simple structure without increasing its size. This allows the elastically deforming portion to flexibly absorb misalignment of the electrode terminals during the process of connecting the electrode terminals with the electrode terminal connecting component, as well as displacement of the electrode terminals after connection.

[0011] The method of connecting both ends of the intermediate conductor to the pair of electrode connection parts can be any method that can achieve electrical and physical connection between the intermediate conductor and each electrode connection part, such as ultrasonic welding or laser welding, or fastening using fastening parts.

[0012] The electrode terminal connection component of this embodiment can be used for any connection between adjacent electrode terminals, for example, for connecting adjacent electrode terminals of multiple battery cells in a battery pack, or for connecting adjacent electrode terminals of adjacent devices such as a motor or inverter.

[0013] Furthermore, the electrode terminal connection component of this embodiment may have at least one pair of electrode connection portions and an intermediate conductor portion connecting them to connect adjacent electrode terminals, but may also have two or more intermediate conductor portions with electrode connection portions connected to both ends to connect, for example, three or more adjacent electrode terminals. An electrode terminal connection component in which a pair of electrode connection portions is connected by one intermediate conductor portion can physically and electrically connect adjacent positive and negative electrode terminals, for example, when connecting multiple battery cells in series. Furthermore, an electrode terminal connection component in which three or more electrode connection portions arranged with gaps are connected by two or more intermediate conductor portions arranged therebetween can physically and electrically connect three or more adjacent positive or negative electrode terminals when connecting three or more battery cells in parallel.

[0014] (2) Preferably, the intermediate conductor portion has flat connecting portions at both ends, the connecting portions defining the elastically deforming portion, and each electrode connection portion has a flat-plate-shaped connectable portion that overlaps and connects to the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor portion, and a flat-plate-shaped connecting portion that overlaps and connects to the electrode terminal. The flat connecting portions at both ends of the intermediate conductor overlap and connect to the flat-plate-shaped connectable portions of the electrode connection portions, advantageously ensuring a sufficient contact area between the intermediate conductor portion and each electrode connection portion, facilitating the connection work between the intermediate conductor portion and each electrode connection portion by welding or the like, and achieving stable conductive connection between the intermediate conductor portion and each electrode connection portion. Additionally, the intermediate conductor portion defines an elastically deforming portion between the connecting portions at both ends. Therefore, the intermediate conductor portion is not constrained by the electrode connection portions, and a wider area can be elastically deformed in response to an external force acting in the direction of approaching or separating the electrode connection portions. This advantageously ensures the elastically deforming portion's ability to adapt to misalignment of the electrode terminals and its flexibility.

[0015] (3) It is preferable that the coupled portion of each of the electrode connecting portions protrudes upward and away from the electrode terminal more than the connecting portion. Since the coupled portion of each of the electrode connecting portions protrudes upward and away from the electrode terminal more than the connecting portion that is superimposed on the electrode terminal, even if distortions or scratches occur on the surface of the coupled portion as a result of the connection work between the intermediate conductor portion and each of the electrode connecting portions, the risk of these distortions or scratches interfering with the electrode terminal is avoided or suppressed. can .

[0016] (4) In each of the electrode connection portions, the side edge portion located on the electrode connection portion side connected via the intermediate conductor portion is bent upward away from the electrode terminal relative to the connecting portion, thereby forming the connectable portion that protrudes upward relative to the connecting portion, and each connecting portion of the intermediate conductor portion is preferably overlapped with the connectable portion in the direction of approach or separation of adjacent electrode connection portions. The side edge portion of the electrode connection portion located inside the direction of approach or separation of adjacent electrode connection portions is bent upward to form a rising connectable portion, and each connecting portion of the intermediate conductor portion is overlapped with the connectable portion in the direction of approach or separation. As a result, when adjacent electrode terminals are displaced, the displacement force is easily exerted on the elastic deformation portion provided between the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor portion in the plate thickness direction of the elastic deformation portion. This improves the ability to follow the displacement of the electrode terminal and improves its flexibility.

[0017] (5) In each of the electrode connection parts, it is preferable that the side edge located on the electrode connection part side connected via the intermediate conductor part is bent upward away from the electrode terminal, and further bent toward the electrode connection part connected via the intermediate conductor part, thereby forming the connected part that is arranged above the connection part and extends parallel to the connection part, and each of the connecting parts of the intermediate conductor part is overlapped and connected to the connected part from the above side.

[0018] The side edge of the electrode connection part that is located inside in the direction of approach or separation between adjacent electrode connection parts rises upward, and then the connected part is formed by a part that widens parallel to the connecting part. This makes it possible to reliably position the connected part above the electrode terminal, and even if distortion or scratches occur on the surface of the connected part as a result of connecting the intermediate conductor part and each electrode connection part, it is possible to more advantageously avoid or suppress the risk of these distortions or scratches interfering with the electrode terminal.

[0019] Furthermore, each connecting portion of the intermediate conductor portion can be overlapped and connected from above to the connected portion that extends parallel to the connection portion, making the connection work between the intermediate conductor portion and each electrode connection portion even easier.

[0020] (6) It is preferable that the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor has at least one bent portion formed by bending the intermediate conductor in the plate thickness direction. When an external force is applied in the direction of moving the electrode connection portions closer to or farther away from each other, the bent portion provided in the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor can advantageously cause bending deformation of the elastically deforming portion in the plate thickness direction, starting from the bent portion. As a result, elastic deformation of the elastically deforming portion becomes easier, and misalignment between the electrode terminals can be advantageously absorbed.

[0021] (7) It is preferable that the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor portion has a plurality of bent portions spaced apart from one another in the direction of approaching or separating the electrode connection portions, and has an arch shape curved to one side in the plate thickness direction as a whole. The entire elastically deforming portion has an arch shape curved to one side in the plate thickness direction, and has a plurality of bent portions spaced apart from one another in the direction of approaching or separating the electrode connection portions. This makes it easier for the elastically deforming portion to elastically deform in response to an external force acting in the direction of approaching or separating the electrode connection portions, and can advantageously absorb misalignment between the electrode terminals.

[0022] (8) Preferably, the intermediate conductor portion has flat connecting portions at both ends, with the connecting portions forming the elastically deforming portion, and the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor portion has four bent portions, the four bent portions including a pair of first bent portions bent toward one side in the plate thickness direction near the connecting portions and a pair of second bent portions disposed between the pair of first bent portions and bent toward the other side in the plate thickness direction, and the elastically deforming portion has a trough shape as a whole. The elastically deforming portion has a trough shape as a whole, and includes a pair of first bent portions disposed on the connecting portion side and a second bent portion disposed therebetween and bent toward the opposite side from the first bent portions. Therefore, in response to an external force acting in a direction toward or away from the electrode connection portions, the second bent portions, originating from the first bent portions, are likely to tilt in the direction in which the external force acts, making elastic deformation of the elastically deforming portion easier and advantageously absorbing misalignment between the electrode terminals.

[0023] (9) It is preferable that the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor portion protrudes upward away from the electrode terminal relative to the electrode connection portion. By making the elastically deforming portion protrude upward away from the electrode terminal, it is possible to advantageously prevent or suppress interference of the elastically deforming portion with parts or components on the electrode terminal side during elastic deformation.

[0024] (10) It is preferable that the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor portion is arranged above the connecting portion of the electrode connecting portion and protrudes below the connected portion of the electrode connecting portion. By making good use of the opposing gap between the connected portions that are arranged above the connecting portions of the electrode connecting portions and extend parallel to the connecting portions, a trough-shaped elastically deforming portion can be accommodated therein with its opening facing upward. This makes it possible to provide an electrode terminal connecting component that has improved ability to follow the displacement of the electrode terminal without increasing the size of the electrode terminal connecting component. Furthermore, because the elastically deforming portion has a trough shape that is arranged with its opening facing upward, the elastically deforming portion does not elastically deform toward the electrode terminal side, and interference with other components during elastic deformation of the elastically deforming portion is prevented or suppressed in advance. can .

[0025] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Specific examples of the electrode terminal connecting component of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0026] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. An electrode terminal connection part 10 is a part that connects a plurality of adjacent electrode terminals 12, 12. Note that the members that have electrode terminals 12 and are connected by the electrode terminal connection part 10 are not limited. However, in the first embodiment, a battery cell 14 has a positive electrode terminal 12a and a negative electrode terminal 12b on both sides in the front-rear direction, and the positive electrode terminals 12a and negative electrode terminals 12b of adjacent battery cells 14, 14 are connected by the electrode terminal connection part 10. That is, in Fig. 2, a plurality of battery cells 14 are aligned in the left-right direction, and the positive electrode terminals 12a and negative electrode terminals 12b on both sides in the front-rear direction are arranged alternately in the left-right direction. The positive electrode terminal 12a and the negative electrode terminal 12b of adjacent battery cells 14, 14 are connected by the electrode terminal connecting part 10, so that the plurality of battery cells 14 are electrically connected in series.

[0027] 1 and 2, the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b are shown in a generally plate-like shape, but they may also be in the form of, for example, bolts protruding upward or screw holes opening upward. Furthermore, the electrode terminal connection part 10 located at the extreme left-right end may have the side opposite to the side to which the electrode terminal 12 is connected fixed to, for example, a housing or connector (not shown) that houses multiple battery cells 14. The electrode terminal connection part 10 can be arranged in any orientation, but the following description will be given according to the up-down, left-right, and front-to-back directions shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, in some cases, when multiple identical components are used, only some of the components are designated by reference numerals, and the reference numerals are omitted for the other components.

[0028] <Electrode terminal connecting part 10> The electrode terminal connection component 10 includes a plurality of electrode connection portions 16 (first electrode connection portions 16a and second electrode connection portions 16b) connected to adjacent electrode terminals 12 (positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b), respectively, and an intermediate conductor portion 18 disposed between adjacent electrode connection portions 16, 16 (first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b) and having the electrode connection portions 16 (first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b) connected to both ends. The first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b and the intermediate conductor portion 18 are preferably formed from a material that has excellent conductivity and is easy to process, such as copper (including copper alloys) or aluminum (including aluminum alloys).

[0029] <First electrode connection portion 16a (second electrode connection portion 16b)> In the first embodiment, the first electrode connection portion 16a and the second electrode connection portion 16b are made of the same material and are arranged symmetrically. Therefore, in the following description, only the first electrode connection portion 16a will be described, and the second electrode connection portion 16b will be denoted in the drawings by the same reference numeral as the first electrode connection portion 16a, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the electrode terminal connection component 10, the first electrode connection portion 16a is located on the left side and the second electrode connection portion 16b is located on the right side, and these first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b are arranged opposite each other and spaced apart in the left-right direction. The first electrode connection portion 16a is made of a single flat metal plate, and is formed by bending a long metal plate in the left-right direction into a predetermined shape.

[0030] The first electrode connecting portion 16a has a flat-plate-shaped connected portion 20 that is superimposed on and connected to a connecting portion 30 of the intermediate conductor portion 18, which will be described later, and a flat-plate-shaped connecting portion 22 that is superimposed on and connected to the electrode terminal 12 (the negative electrode terminal 12b in FIG. 1). The connected portion 20 protrudes upward, away from the electrode terminal 12 (the negative electrode terminal 12b) beyond the connecting portion 22. The connected portion 20 and connecting portion 22 each extend in the horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction).

[0031] That is, the side edge of the first electrode connection portion 16a, located on the second electrode connection portion 16b side (right side) connected via the intermediate conductor portion 18, is bent upward relative to the connection portion 22 located on the left side, and the upwardly bent side edge is further bent toward the second electrode connection portion 16b (right side) at its middle portion to form the coupled portion 20. As a result, the coupled portion 20 is disposed above the connection portion 22, and both the connection portion 22 and the coupled portion 20 extend horizontally and are parallel to each other. In other words, the coupled portion 20 and the connecting portion 22 are connected by a vertical portion 24 extending in the up-down direction, with the right end of the connection portion 22 continuing with the lower end of the vertical portion 24 and the left end of the coupled portion 20 continuing with the upper end of the vertical portion 24. A circular through-hole 26 penetrating the coupling portion 22 in the thickness direction (up-down direction) is formed in the approximate center of the coupling portion 22.

[0032] As described above, the second electrode connection portion 16b is disposed symmetrically to the first electrode connection portion 16a and facing the first electrode connection portion 16a with a predetermined gap therebetween. That is, a connection portion 22 extending horizontally is provided on the right side of the second electrode connection portion 16b, and the left end of the connection portion 22 is continuous with the lower end of the vertical portion 24. A connectable portion 20 extends leftward from the upper end of the vertical portion 24. Therefore, the connectable portions 20 extend from the upper ends of the vertical portions 24 of the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b in directions approaching each other, and the connectable portions 20, 20 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween.

[0033] <Intermediate conductor part 18> As shown in FIG. 1 , the intermediate conductor portion 18 is formed from a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates 28, each thinner than the flat metal plates constituting the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b, are stacked. The plurality of thin metal plates 28 are all substantially the same shape, and the intermediate conductor portion 18 is formed by stacking a plurality of thin metal plates 28, each having a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the left-right direction, vertically and then bending the plurality of thin metal plates 28 into a predetermined shape. The intermediate conductor portion 18 may also be formed by stacking a plurality of thin metal plates 28, each bent into a predetermined shape, vertically and vertically. The thickness of the thin metal plates 28 and the number of stacked sheets are not limited, but for example, 6 to 12 thin metal plates 28, each having a thickness within the range of 0.1 mm to 0.6 mm, are stacked.

[0034] As a result, the intermediate conductor portion 18 is elastically deformable overall when in a standalone state before being fixed to the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, but its left-right ends are formed as flat connecting portions 30, which are overlapped and fixed to the respective connectable portions 20 as described below, making elastic deformation substantially impossible. Furthermore, the left-right middle portion of the intermediate conductor portion 18 is not fixed to the connectable portions 20 and is formed as an elastically deforming portion 32 that can easily deform elastically. As described below, the elastic deformation of the elastically deforming portion 32 allows the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b to move closer to or farther apart. That is, the elastically deforming portion 32 is formed in the intermediate conductor portion 18 between the connecting portions 30 at both left-right ends.

[0035] The elastic deformation portion 32 has, for example, at least one bent portion 34, and the elastic deformation portion 32 is bent at the bent portion 34 in the plate thickness direction. In the first embodiment, the elastic deformation portion 32 has four bent portions 34 and has a generally gutter shape as a whole. That is, the four bent portions 34 include a pair of first bent portions 34a, 34a that are bent downward to one side in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) near each of the connecting portions 30, 30, and the elastic deformation portion 32 has a pair of side wall portions 36, 36 that extend downward continuously from each of the connecting portions 30, 30. In the first embodiment, the pair of side wall portions 36, 36 extend parallel to the vertical direction in the state of the electrode terminal connection component 10 alone before being connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b, and in the state where the electrode terminal connection component 10 is connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b. However, in either state, the side wall portions may extend at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

[0036] Furthermore, a pair of second bent portions 34b, 34b, which are the remaining two of the four bent portions 34, are provided at the lower ends of the pair of side wall portions 36, 36, and the lower ends of the pair of side wall portions 36, 36 are bent inward in the left-right direction, which is the other side in the plate thickness direction (left-right direction). In short, the elastically deforming portion 32 is bent by the second bent portions 34b, 34b at the lower ends of the pair of side wall portions 36, 36, and a bottom wall portion 38 is provided that connects the lower ends of the pair of side wall portions 36, 36. The pair of side wall portions 36, 36 and the bottom wall portion 38 form the elastically deforming portion 32, which is generally gutter-shaped and opens upward.

[0037] When the intermediate conductor portion 18 is not bent at each bent portion 34 (when the thin metal plates 28 extending in the left-right direction are stacked in the up-down direction), the portions constituting the pair of first bent portions 34a, 34a and the portions constituting the pair of second bent portions 34b, 34b are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b approach or separate from each other. The pair of second bent portions 34b, 34b are located between the pair of first bent portions 34a, 34a. Considering the state in which the intermediate conductor portion 18 extends in the left-right direction as a reference, it can be understood that the intermediate conductor portion 18 is bent downward, which is one side in the plate thickness direction, at the pair of first bent portions 34a, 34a, and upward, which is the other side in the plate thickness direction, at the pair of second bent portions 34b, 34b, thereby forming the elastic deformation portion 32.

[0038] <Assembly process of electrode terminal connection part 10> Next, there will be described a specific example of the process of assembling the electrode terminal connection part 10. Note that the process of assembling the electrode terminal connection part 10 is not limited to the following description.

[0039] First, a single metal plate is bent into the above-described shape to obtain the first electrode connection portion 16a. Note that since the first electrode connection portion 16a and the second electrode connection portion 16b have the same shape, forming a plurality of first electrode connection portions 16a also allows the second electrode connection portion 16b to be formed at the same time. In this way, the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b are obtained.

[0040] Next, the multiple metal thin plates 28 are stacked and bent into the above-described shape to obtain the intermediate conductor 18. The elastically deforming portions 32 of the intermediate conductor 18 are then inserted between the respective connectable portions 20 of the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a and 16b, and the respective connecting portions 30 of the intermediate conductor 18 are overlapped and fixed to the respective connectable portions 20 from above. The method for fixing the respective connecting portions 30 to the respective connectable portions 20 is not limited, and any conventionally known fixing method, such as ultrasonic welding, laser welding, adhesives, or fastening components, may be used. In this manner, the intermediate conductor 18 is fixed to the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a and 16b, completing the electrode terminal connecting component 10.

[0041] In the electrode terminal connecting component 10 of the first embodiment, the elastically deforming portion 32 of the intermediate conductor portion 18 protrudes downwardly from the respective connected portions 20, 20 of the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, and the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 38, which is the lower end of the elastically deforming portion 32, is located slightly above the lower surfaces of the respective connecting portions 22, 22. Therefore, the elastically deforming portion 32 of the intermediate conductor portion 18 is located above the respective connecting portions 22 of the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b.

[0042] In the electrode terminal connection part 10 manufactured in this manner, one of the first and second electrode connection parts 16a, 16b is superimposed on and electrically connected to one of the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b of the battery cell 14, and the other of the first and second electrode connection parts 16a, 16b is superimposed on and electrically connected to the other of the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b of the adjacent battery cell 14. As a result, as shown in Fig. 2, a plurality of battery cells 14 adjacent in the left-right direction are connected in series by a plurality of electrode terminal connection parts 10.

[0043] The method for electrically connecting the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b to the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b is not limited. For example, the metal electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b may be overlapped and fixed by laser welding or the like. Alternatively, if the electrode terminals 12a, 12b have a shape in which bolts protrude upward, the electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b may be fixed by inserting bolts into the through holes 26 in the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b and fastening nuts. Furthermore, if the electrode terminals 12a, 12b have a shape in which threaded holes are formed, the electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b may be fixed by fastening bolts from above through the through holes 26 in the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b. The through holes 26 in the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b can be used not only for inserting bolts but also for management purposes during laser welding.

[0044] In the electrode terminal connection component 10 of the first embodiment, the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b are each made of a single metal flat plate and have a certain degree of rigidity, which reduces the risk of the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b unintentionally deforming to create gaps between the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b, and enables stable maintenance of electrical continuity between the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b.

[0045] Furthermore, the intermediate conductor portion 18 connecting the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b has an elastically deformable elastic deformation portion 32. Therefore, even if the positions of the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b are displaced due to a volume change, such as thermal expansion, the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion 32 allows the displacement of the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b following the electrode terminals 12a, 12b. As a result, even if the positions of the electrode terminals 12a, 12b are displaced, the electrical continuity between the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b can be stably maintained. In the first embodiment, for example, if the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b are displaced toward each other, the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b are displaced toward each other, and the generally trough-shaped elastic deformation portion 32 is elastically deformed so as to reduce the opening dimensions of the upper opening.

[0046] The intermediate conductor portion 18 has flat connecting portions 30 at both ends, and an elastically deforming portion 32 is provided between the connecting portions 30. Furthermore, the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b each have a flat connectable portion 20 and a connecting portion 22. This ensures a large contact area when connecting the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b to the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, and when connecting the connectable portions 20 to the connecting portions 30, thereby providing good conductivity. Furthermore, because the elastically deforming portions 32 are not fixed to the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, they do not lose their flexibility and can stably deform to follow any positional misalignment of the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b.

[0047] In the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, each of the connected portions 20 protrudes upward relative to each of the connecting portions 22. As a result, even if the lower surface of each connected portion 20 becomes rough and uneven or is scratched when, for example, each connected portion 20 and each connecting portion 30 are fixed by welding, the protrusions on the lower surface of each connected portion 20 are prevented from coming into contact with each of the electrode terminals 12a, 12b or the battery cell 14, thereby preventing adverse effects on the connection between the positive and negative electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b.

[0048] In particular, in the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, the connectable portions 20 and the connecting portions 22 extend horizontally and are parallel to each other. This makes it possible to keep the vertical dimension of the electrode terminal connecting part 10 small compared to, for example, a case where the connectable portions 20 are inclined upward as they extend from the vertical portions 24, and also makes it easier to fasten the connectable portions 20 to the connecting portions 30 compared to, for example, a case where the connectable portions 20 are inclined downward as they extend from the vertical portions 24.

[0049] The elastically deforming portion 32 of the first embodiment has four bent portions 34, specifically a pair of first bent portions 34a, 34a and a pair of second bent portions 34b, 34b. For example, when the electrode terminals 12a, 12b are displaced toward each other, the generally trough-shaped elastically deforming portion 32 elastically deforms so that the opening dimensions of the upper opening become smaller, as described above. This elastic deformation is achieved by the side wall portion 36 being inclined in the up-down direction from each of the first bent portions 34a and each of the second bent portions 34b. That is, by forming the bent portions 34 in the elastically deforming portion 32, it is possible to provide a portion that deforms preferentially, and this makes it easier to cause the elastically deforming portion 32 to elastically deform in response to the displacement of the electrode terminals 12a, 12b.

[0050] In the first embodiment, the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b have respective connectable portions 20 that protrude upward, and an elastically deforming portion 32 in the intermediate conductor portion 18 protrudes downward between the connectable portions 20. In particular, in the first embodiment, the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 38 in the elastically deforming portion 32 is located higher than the lower surfaces of the connecting portions 22 in the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b. That is, the elastically deforming portion 32 is accommodated in a space created by the connectable portions 20 in the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b protruding upward, which makes it possible to keep the vertical dimension of the electrode terminal connecting part 10 small and also to prevent the elastically deforming portion 32 from interfering with the battery cell 14 located below the electrode terminal connecting part 10.

[0051] <Embodiment 2> Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figure 3. An electrode terminal connection component 40 of the second embodiment has a structure basically similar to that of the electrode terminal connection component 10 of the first embodiment, and includes a pair of electrode connection portions 42 (a first electrode connection portion 42a and a second electrode connection portion 42b) that face each other and are spaced apart in the left-right direction, and an intermediate conductor portion 44 that connects the first and second electrode connection portions 42a, 42b. The first and second electrode connection portions 42a, 42b are each composed of a single flat metal plate, and the intermediate conductor portion 44 is composed of a laminated bus bar in which multiple thin metal plates 28 are stacked. In the following description, the same members and parts as those of the previous embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] The first and second electrode connecting portions 42a, 42b in embodiment 2 are not provided with bent portions and are generally flat plate-shaped. In the first and second electrode connecting portions 42a, 42b, the portions on the inner side in the opposing direction are flat connected portions 20, and the portions on the outer side in the opposing direction are flat connecting portions 22.

[0053] Furthermore, while the elastic deformation portion 32 in the first embodiment has a generally trough shape that opens upward, the elastic deformation portion 46 in the second embodiment has a generally trough shape that opens downward. In other words, the elastic deformation portion 46 in the second embodiment protrudes upward, i.e., in a direction away from the electrode terminals 12a, 12b, further than the first and second electrode connection portions 42a, 42b. That is, the intermediate conductor portion 44 in the second embodiment has flat connecting portions 30 at both ends in the left-right direction, and side wall portions 36 extend upward from the inner ends of the connecting portions 30 in the opposing direction, with the upper ends of the side wall portions 36 connected by an upper bottom wall portion 48. The connecting portions 30 and the side wall portions 36 are connected by first bent portions 34a that constitute the bent portions 34, and the side wall portions 36 and the upper bottom wall portion 48 are connected by second bent portions 34b that constitute the bent portions 34.

[0054] The electrode terminal connection part 40 of embodiment 2 having the above-described structure can also achieve the same effects as the electrode terminal connection part 10 of embodiment 1. In particular, in the electrode terminal connection part 40 of embodiment 2, the elastic deformation part 46 protrudes upward, that is, in a direction away from the electrode terminals 12a, 12b, and therefore interference with members such as the battery cell 14 located below the electrode terminal connection part 40 can be avoided. Furthermore, because the elastic deformation part 46 is not located between the electrode connection parts 42a, 42b, it is possible to reduce the opposing distance in the left-right direction between the electrode connection parts 42a, 42b, and it is also possible to keep the left-right dimension of the electrode terminal connection part 40 small.

[0055] <Embodiment 3> Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. An electrode terminal connection component 50 of the third embodiment also includes a pair of electrode connection portions 52 (a first electrode connection portion 52a and a second electrode connection portion 52b) that face each other and are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, and an intermediate conductor portion 54 that connects the first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b. The first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b are each made of a single flat metal plate, and the intermediate conductor portion 54 is made of a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates 28 are stacked.

[0056] In the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b in the third embodiment, the side edge portions on the inner side in the opposing direction, that is, the side edge portions on the side of the second and first electrode connecting portions 52b, 52a connected via the intermediate conductor portion 54, are bent upward in a direction away from the electrode terminals 12a, 12b relative to the connecting portions 22 located on the outer side in the opposing direction, and the bent portions protruding upward form the connected portions 56. That is, the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b each have a substantially L-shaped cross section.

[0057] The intermediate conductor portion 54 in the third embodiment has flat connecting portions 58 at both left and right ends that are overlapped and connected to the connectable portions 56, and elastically deformable portions 60 are provided between the connecting portions 58 in the left and right direction. Each connecting portion 58 extends in the up and down direction and is overlapped and fixed to each connectable portion 56 from the inner side in the left and right direction, which is the direction in which the electrode connection portions 52a, 52b approach or move away from each other. The method of fixing each connecting portion 58 to each connectable portion 56 can be the same as the method of fixing each connecting portion 30 to each connectable portion 20 in the first embodiment described above.

[0058] The elastically deforming portion 60 in the third embodiment has an arch shape that curves convexly upward in the thickness direction. The elastically deforming portion 60 in the third embodiment has a partially flat portion, and a plurality of bent portions 62 that are spaced apart in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the electrode connection portions 52a, 52b approach or separate, connecting the flat portions. When the elastically deforming portion is arch-shaped, it may have a partially flat portion and the remaining portion may be bent portions 62, as in the third embodiment. However, the elastically deforming portion may be entirely curved without having a flat portion. In this case, the curvature of the elastically deforming portion may be constant in the left-right direction or may partially differ in the left-right direction. Furthermore, when the entire elastically deforming portion is curved, it can also be understood as having countless bent portions in the left-right direction.

[0059] The electrode terminal connection part 50 of embodiment 3 may be manufactured, as in the electrode terminal connection part 10 of embodiment 1, by bending the intermediate conductor part 54 into the shape described above, and then overlapping and fixing the connecting parts 58 of the intermediate conductor part 54 to the connected parts 56 of the first and second electrode connecting parts 52a, 52b, or may be manufactured, for example, by the method shown in Figure 5.

[0060] That is, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 5 , the metal sheets 28 are stacked vertically (i.e., not bent at the bent portions 62), and the connectable portions 56 of the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b are overlapped from above with the connecting portions 58 at both the left and right ends of the intermediate conductor portion 54. In this state, the connecting portions 22 of the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b extend upward from the connectable portions 56. When the connectable portions 56 and the connecting portions 58 are fixed to each other by ultrasonic welding, for example, with the connectable portions 56 and the connecting portions 58 vertically stacked in this manner, spaces can be secured above and below the overlapping portions of the connectable portions 56 and the connecting portions 58, allowing an ultrasonic welding horn to be placed above or below the overlapping portions. This facilitates fixing the connectable portions 56 to the connecting portions 58.

[0061] Thereafter, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 5, the elastic deformation portion 60 of the intermediate conductor portion 54 is bent into the shape described above, thereby completing the electrode terminal connection component 50 of the third embodiment. In the electrode terminal connection component 50 shown in the lower part of Fig. 5, the connection portions 22 of the first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b are each expanded in the horizontal direction. However, for example, before being attached to the battery cell 14, the bending amount of the elastic deformation portion 60 may be made smaller than a predetermined amount, so that one connection portion 22 is raised relative to the other connection portion 22. Then, when the electrode terminal connection component is attached to the battery cell 14, the elastic deformation portion 60 may be additionally bent so that the connection portions 22 are overlapped with the electrode terminals 12a, 12b in a state where they are each expanded in the horizontal direction.

[0062] The electrode terminal connection component 50 of the third embodiment, which has the above-described structure, can also achieve the same effects as the electrode terminal connection component 10 of the first embodiment. In particular, the elastically deforming portion 60 of the intermediate conductor portion 54 of the third embodiment has an arch shape that is convex upward. For example, when the electrode connection portions 52a, 52b are displaced toward each other, the elastically deforming portion 60 is easily elastically deformed in a direction in which it is compressed in the left-right direction. As a result, the displacement of the first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b that follow the electrode terminals 12a, 12b is stably permitted by the elastic deformation of the elastically deforming portion 60. Furthermore, because the connecting portions 58 and the connected portions 56 are overlapped and fixed in the left-right direction, protrusions, such as roughness or scratches on the inner surfaces of the connecting portions 58 that occur due to the fixation, are prevented from interfering with the electrode terminals 12a, 12b or the battery cell 14.

[0063] The electrode terminal connection part 50 of the third embodiment can also be manufactured by the method shown in Fig. 5 as described above. By manufacturing by such a method, the connectable parts 56 and the connecting parts 58 can be easily fixed together, and the manufacturing efficiency of the electrode terminal connection part 50 can be improved.

[0064] <Modification of the third embodiment> Next, a modified example of the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In the electrode terminal connection part 70 shown in Fig. 6, slits 72 are provided that penetrate the elastically deforming portion 60 of the intermediate conductor part 54 in the plate thickness direction in the electrode terminal connection part 70 of the third embodiment. The shape and number of the slits 72 are not limited, but in this embodiment, a total of four elongated slits 72 having a front-to-rear dimension greater than the left-to-right dimension are provided, spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions. Each of these slits 72 may be provided in a bent portion 62 of the elastically deforming portion 60, or in a portion that extends in a planar shape.

[0065] In this way, by providing each slit 72 in the elastically deforming portion 60, it is possible to reduce the reaction force (springback) that accompanies the deformation of the elastically deforming portion 60. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 above, when the elastically deforming portion 60 is deformed to form the electrode terminal connecting component 70, an elastic restoring force acts on the elastically deforming portion 60 as a biasing force, tending to return to the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5. As a result, a biasing force acts on the connecting portions 58 of the intermediate conductor portion 54 in a direction separating them from each other, and ultimately a biasing force acts on the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b tending to return to the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5. Therefore, by providing each slit 72 in the elastically deforming portion 60 as in this embodiment, it is possible to easily deform the elastically deforming portion 60 from the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5 to the state shown in the lower part of FIG. 5, and it is possible to reduce the biasing force in the direction returning to the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5. This makes it possible to prevent one of the first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b from lifting up relative to the other, and to stably connect each of the electrode connection portions 52a, 52b to each of the electrode terminals 12a, 12b. Note that, although the slits 72 extending in the front-rear direction are employed in this embodiment, slits extending in the left-right direction, for example, may be employed instead of or in addition to the slits 72 extending in the front-rear direction.

[0066] <Embodiment 4> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 7. An electrode terminal connection part 80 of the fourth embodiment has a structure that combines the first and second electrode connection parts 16a, 16b of the first embodiment with the intermediate conductor part 44 of the second embodiment, and these components are denoted by reference numerals in Fig. 7, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] To put it simply, the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b in the electrode terminal connecting component 80 of embodiment 4 have connecting portions 22 and connected portions 20 located above the connecting portions 22, and connecting portions 30 at both left and right ends of the intermediate conductor portion 44 are overlapped and fixed to these connected portions 20. Elastically deforming portions 46 that are generally trough-shaped and protrude upward are provided between the connecting portions 30 in the intermediate conductor portion 44.

[0068] The electrode terminal connection part 80 of embodiment 4 having the above-described structure can also achieve the same effects as the electrode terminal connection part 10 of embodiment 1. In particular, because the connectable parts 20 of the first and second electrode connecting parts 16a, 16b are located higher than the connecting parts 22, even if the lower surface of each connectable part 20 becomes rough or scratched during fastening to each connecting part 30, causing a convex part, the convex part is prevented from interfering with the electrode terminals 12a, 12b or the battery cell 14. Furthermore, because the elastically deforming parts 46 protrude upward, interference between the elastically deforming parts 46 and the electrode terminals 12a, 12b or the battery cell 14 is also prevented. Furthermore, because the elastically deforming parts 46 are not located between the connectable parts 20, the opposing dimension in the left-right direction between the connectable parts 20 can be kept small, and therefore the left-right dimension of the electrode terminal connection part 80 can also be kept small.

[0069] <Embodiment 5> Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the elastically deforming portions 32, 46, 60 of the intermediate conductor portions 18, 44, 54 protrude upward or downward relative to the connecting portions 30, 58 at both left and right ends. However, in the electrode terminal connection component 90 of the fifth embodiment, the elastically deforming portion 94 of the intermediate conductor portion 92 does not protrude upward or downward relative to the connecting portions 96 at both left and right ends, and a substantially flat intermediate conductor portion 92 that extends horizontally is employed. Note that the first and second electrode connection portions in the fifth embodiment have the same structure as the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b in the first embodiment. Therefore, the first and second electrode connection portions in the fifth embodiment are denoted in Fig. 8 by the same reference numerals as the first and second electrode connection portions 16a, 16b in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0070] As described above, the intermediate conductor portion 92 has a substantially flat rectangular plate shape, with the left and right end portions being connecting portions 96 that are respectively superimposed on the connectable portions 20 of the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b, and the portions between these connecting portions 96 that are not superimposed on the connectable portions 20 being elastically deforming portions 94. Because the elastically deforming portions 94 are not fixed to the connectable portions 20, they are capable of elastic deformation such as protruding in one direction in the plate thickness direction (vertical direction) when, for example, the first and second electrode connecting portions 16a, 16b are displaced in a direction approaching each other.

[0071] The electrode terminal connection component 90 of embodiment 5 having the above-described structure can also achieve the same effects as the electrode terminal connection component 10 of embodiment 1. In particular, the intermediate conductor portion 92 of embodiment 5 can be formed by stacking substantially rectangular thin metal plates 28 in the vertical direction, eliminating the need for operations such as bending the plate into a predetermined shape by press working or the like. This allows the intermediate conductor portion 92 to be easily formed, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency of the electrode terminal connection component 90.

[0072] <Embodiment 6> Next, a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 9. In a connection component 100 between electrode terminals of the sixth embodiment, similar to the connection component 90 between electrode terminals of the fifth embodiment, an elastically deforming portion 104 in an intermediate conductor portion 102 has a substantially flat rectangular plate shape that extends in the horizontal direction. Note that the first and second electrode connection portions in the sixth embodiment have the same structure as the first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b in the third embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals as the first and second electrode connection portions 52a, 52b in the third embodiment are used in Fig. 9, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0073] That is, the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b each have a connecting portion 22 on the outer side in the left-right direction, and a connectable portion 56 that protrudes upward is provided at the inner end of each connecting portion 22 in the left-right direction. Connecting portions 106 are provided at both left-right ends of the elastically deforming portions 104 of the intermediate conductor portion 102. The connecting portions 106 are overlapped with the connectable portions 56 from the outer side in the left-right direction and fixed to the connectable portions 56. The elastically deforming portions 104 are located between the connecting portions 106 of the intermediate conductor portion 102, and the connecting portions 106 protrude downward from both left-right ends of the elastically deforming portions 104. Thus, the connecting portions 106 of the intermediate conductor portion 102 are overlapped with the connectable portions 56, making them substantially unable to elastically deform. Furthermore, the elastically deforming portions 104 are not fixed to the connectable portions 56, so that, for example, when the first and second electrode connecting portions 52a, 52b are displaced in a direction toward each other, they can elastically deform so as to protrude in one direction in the plate thickness direction (up-down direction).

[0074] In the electrode terminal connection part 100 of the sixth embodiment having such a structure, the intermediate conductor part 102 may be bent into the above-described shape, and then the connectable parts 56 of the first and second electrode connection parts 52a, 52b may be overlapped and fixed to the inner surfaces of the connecting parts 106. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5 of the third embodiment described above, the connectable parts 56 may be overlapped and fixed to the connecting parts 106 at both left and right ends of the intermediate conductor part 102 that extends substantially flat, and then the intermediate conductor part 102 may be bent into the above-described shape to form the electrode terminal connection part 100. The intermediate conductor part 102 may be bent so that the elastically deforming parts 104 remain flat. Alternatively, the bending of the intermediate conductor part 102 may cause the elastically deforming parts 104 to curve, for example, convex upward. Furthermore, when the intermediate conductor portion 102 is bent in this manner, an elastic restoring force (springback) is generated. However, a slit may be provided in the elastic deformation portion 104, as in the electrode terminal connection part 70 shown in Figure 6, thereby reducing the elastic restoring force and making it possible to stably maintain the shape of the electrode terminal connection part 100.

[0075] The electrode terminal connection part 100 of the sixth embodiment having the above-described structure can also achieve the same effects as the electrode terminal connection part 10 of the first embodiment. In particular, because the connecting parts 106 and the coupled parts 56 are overlapped in the left-right direction and fixed, protrusions such as roughness or scratches on the inner surface of the coupled parts 56 that occur due to the fixation are prevented from interfering with the electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the battery cell 14. Furthermore, because the elastically deforming parts 104 extend substantially flat, the vertical dimension of the electrode terminal connection part 100 is kept small, and interference of the elastically deforming parts 104 with the underlying electrode terminals 12a, 12b and the battery cell 14 is prevented. Furthermore, because the electrode terminal connection part 100 can be manufactured by a method similar to the method shown in FIG. 5 above, the connecting parts 106 and the coupled parts 56 can be easily fixed, improving the manufacturing efficiency of the electrode terminal connection part 100.

[0076] <Other embodiments> The technology described herein is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also within the technical scope of the technology described in this specification: Included.

[0077] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the positive electrode terminals 12a and negative electrode terminals 12b of adjacent battery cells 14 are connected to each other by the electrode terminal connection parts 10, 40, 50, 70, 80, 90, and 100, thereby electrically connecting the battery cells 14 in series. However, for example, the positive electrode terminals or negative electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells may be connected to each other by the electrode terminal connection parts, or the battery cells may be electrically connected in parallel. In this case, for example, the electrode terminal connection part is not limited to a configuration that connects two adjacent electrode terminals. For example, the electrode terminal connection part may have three electrode connection parts 42 that connect three adjacent electrode terminals 12 (the positive electrode terminal 12a in FIG. 10 ), as in the electrode terminal connection part 110 shown in FIG. 10 , and the adjacent electrode connection parts 42 are connected by intermediate conductor parts 44. Alternatively, the electrode terminal connection part may have four or more electrode connection parts 42 that connect four or more adjacent electrode terminals. The electrode terminal connection part 110 shown in FIG. 10 has a shape similar to two electrode terminal connection parts 40 of the second embodiment connected together, but it is also possible to combine electrode terminal connection parts described in different embodiments of the above-mentioned embodiments in accordance with the arrangement of the multiple electrode terminals to be attached, for example.

[0078] (2) The first electrode connection portion and the second electrode connection portion that connect two adjacent electrode terminals do not need to have the same shape, and a combination of different shapes may be adopted. For example, in the first embodiment, the second electrode connection portion may have a shape similar to that of the sixth embodiment (third embodiment), and the right-side connecting portion in the first embodiment may be overlapped and fixed from the outside in the left-right direction to the connected portion that protrudes upward from the connecting portion.

[0079] (3) The shapes of the elastically deforming portion described in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not limited thereto. For example, in the first embodiment, the elastically deforming portion 32 is configured as a single, generally trough-shaped portion consisting of a pair of side walls 36, 36 and a bottom wall 38. However, the elastically deforming portion may be configured as a concave-convex shape, such as a series of multiple trough shapes spaced apart in the left-right direction. Similarly, in the third embodiment, the elastically deforming portion 60 is configured as a single, generally arch-shaped portion overall. However, the elastically deforming portion may be configured as a wave-shaped portion, such as a series of multiple arch-shaped portions spaced apart in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the elastically deforming portion in the electrode terminal connecting component of the present disclosure may have at least one bent portion, as in the first to fourth embodiments, but the number of bent portions is not limited thereto. For example, in the first embodiment, there are four bending portions 34 (a pair of first bending portions 34a, 34a and a pair of second bending portions 34b, 34b), but there may be, for example, a pair of first bending portions and one second bending portion, and the elastic deformation portion of the first embodiment may be, for example, approximately V-shaped and open upward.

[0080] (4) Each connection portion of each electrode connection portion does not need to extend horizontally, and when connecting each electrode connection portion to each electrode terminal, for example, one connection portion may be raised above the other connection portion. In such a case, when connecting each electrode connection portion to each electrode terminal, the elastically deforming portion may be additionally bent to make each electrode connection portion extend horizontally, and then connected to each electrode terminal. This eliminates the need to strictly control the amount of deformation (bending amount) of the elastically deforming portion during manufacturing of the electrode terminal connection component, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency of the electrode terminal connection component.

[0081] (5) The electrode terminals connected by the electrode terminal-to-electrode terminal connection component of the present disclosure are not limited to electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells, but may also connect electrode terminals of different adjacent devices, such as a motor and an inverter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10 Electrode terminal connecting part (embodiment 1) 12 electrode terminal 12a Positive electrode terminal 12b Negative electrode terminal 14 battery cells 16 Electrode connection part 16a First electrode connection portion 16b Second electrode connection part 18 Intermediate conductor 20 Connected part 22 Connection 24 Vertical section 26 Through hole 28 Metal sheet 30 Connecting part 32 Elastic deformation part 34 Bending section 34a First bend 34b Second bending part 36 Side wall 38 Bottom wall 40 Electrode terminal connecting part (embodiment 2) 42 Electrode connection part 42a first electrode connection portion 42b Second electrode connection part 44 Intermediate conductor 46 Elastic deformation part 48 Upper bottom wall 50 Electrode terminal connecting part (embodiment 3) 52 Electrode connection part 52a first electrode connection portion 52b Second electrode connection part 54 Intermediate conductor 56 Connected part 58 Connecting part 60 Elastic deformation part 62 Bending section 70 Electrode terminal connecting part (modification of Example 3) 72 Slit 80 Electrode terminal connecting part (Embodiment 4) 90 Electrode terminal connecting part (embodiment 5) 92 Intermediate conductor 94 Elastic deformation part 96 Connecting part 100 Electrode terminal connecting part (embodiment 6) 102 Intermediate conductor part 104 Elastic deformation part 106 Connection section 110 Electrode terminal connecting part (Fig. 10)

Claims

1. a plurality of electrode connection portions connected to adjacent electrode terminals, respectively; and an intermediate conductor portion disposed between adjacent electrode connection portions and having both ends connected to the electrode connection portions, Each of the electrode connection portions is made of a single metal flat plate, the intermediate conductor portion is formed by a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates thinner than the flat metal plates are laminated, and has an elastic deformation portion that allows the electrode connection portions to move toward or away from each other by elastic deformation; the intermediate conductor portion has flat plate-shaped connecting portions at both ends, and the elastic deformation portion is formed between the connecting portions; Each of the electrode connection portions has a flat-plate-shaped connected portion that is superposed on and connected to each of the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor portion, and a flat-plate-shaped connecting portion that is superposed on and connected to the electrode terminal. Parts for connecting electrode terminals.

2. 2. The electrode terminal connecting component according to claim 1, wherein the coupled portion of each of the electrode connecting portions protrudes upward and away from the electrode terminal beyond the connecting portion.

3. In each of the electrode connection portions, a side edge portion located on the electrode connection portion side connected via the intermediate conductor portion is bent upward to be farther away from the electrode terminal than the connection portion, thereby forming the connected portion that protrudes upward relative to the connection portion, 3. The electrode terminal connecting component according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor is overlapped with and connected to the connected portion in a direction in which the adjacent electrode connecting portions approach or move away from each other.

4. In each of the electrode connection parts, a side edge portion located on the electrode connection part side connected via the intermediate conductor part is bent upward away from the electrode terminal, and is further bent toward the electrode connection part connected via the intermediate conductor part, thereby forming the connected part that is disposed above the connection part and extends parallel to the connection part, 3. The electrode terminal connecting component according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor is overlapped with and connected to the connected portion from above.

5. 5. The electrode terminal connection component according to claim 1, wherein the elastically deformable portion of the intermediate conductor has at least one bent portion formed by bending the intermediate conductor in a thickness direction.

6. 6. An electrode terminal connection component according to claim 5, wherein the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor portion has a plurality of bent portions arranged spaced apart from one another in the approaching or separating direction between the electrode connection portions, and has an arch shape curved overall to one side in the plate thickness direction.

7. A semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of electrode connection parts respectively connected to a plurality of adjacent electrode terminals; and an intermediate conductor part disposed between the adjacent electrode connection parts and having the electrode connection parts connected to both ends thereof; Each of the electrode connection portions is made of a single metal flat plate, the intermediate conductor portion is formed by a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates thinner than the flat metal plates are laminated, and has an elastic deformation portion that allows the electrode connection portions to move toward or away from each other by elastic deformation; the elastic deformation portion of the intermediate conductor portion has at least one bent portion formed by bending the intermediate conductor portion in a plate thickness direction, the intermediate conductor portion has flat plate-shaped connecting portions at both ends, and the elastic deformation portion is formed between the connecting portions; an electrode terminal connection component, wherein the elastic deformation portion of the intermediate conductor portion has four bent portions, the four bent portions including a pair of first bent portions that bend to one side in the plate thickness direction near the connecting portion, and a pair of second bent portions that are disposed between the pair of first bent portions and bend to the other side in the plate thickness direction, and the elastic deformation portion has a trough shape as a whole.

8. A semiconductor device comprising: a plurality of electrode connection parts respectively connected to a plurality of adjacent electrode terminals; and an intermediate conductor part disposed between the adjacent electrode connection parts and having the electrode connection parts connected to both ends thereof; Each of the electrode connection portions is made of a single metal flat plate, the intermediate conductor portion is formed by a laminated bus bar in which a plurality of thin metal plates thinner than the flat metal plates are laminated, and has an elastic deformation portion that allows the electrode connection portions to move toward or away from each other by elastic deformation; The elastically deformable portion of the intermediate conductor protrudes upward away from the electrode terminal beyond the electrode connection portion.

9. The intermediate conductor portion has flat connecting portions at both ends, and the elastic deformation portion is formed between the connecting portions, each of the electrode connection portions has a flat-plate-shaped connected portion that is superposed on and connected to each of the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor portion, and a flat-plate-shaped connecting portion that is superposed on and connected to the electrode terminal, In each of the electrode connection parts, a side edge portion located on the electrode connection part side connected via the intermediate conductor part is bent upward away from the electrode terminal, and is further bent toward the electrode connection part connected via the intermediate conductor part, thereby forming the connected part that is disposed above the connection part and extends parallel to the connection part, each of the connecting portions of the intermediate conductor portion is overlapped and connected to the connected portion from above, 8. The electrode terminal connecting component according to claim 7, wherein the elastically deforming portion of the intermediate conductor portion is disposed above the connecting portion of the electrode connecting portion and protrudes downwardly from the coupled portion of the electrode connecting portion.

Images